Blofeld's Bargain Basement! Are Stocks Really Cheaper After the Tariff Tussle?!

A Licence to Thrill... or Just to Bill?

Right 007 reporting for duty. Seems the financial world's been shaken not stirred by some tariff announcements. President Trump never one for subtlety dropped a bombshell and the markets responded with a bit of a wobble. The S&P 500 dipped its toe into bear territory but bounced back quicker than I can down a martini. But the question remains: Did this kerfuffle actually make stocks cheaper? Or is it all smoke and mirrors like a Bond villain's lair?

Price to Earnings? More Like Price to Deceive!

According to Ned Davis Research the price to earnings ratio – that's the P/E ratio for you laymen – took a tumble during this little drama. Sounds promising doesn't it? But hold your horses Moneypenny. These ratios are still higher than average so it's like a store jacking up prices just to offer a 'discount' later. As Ed Clissold put it "P/Es were like stores that increase prices so they can claim they are on sale later." Clever but not quite Q Branch clever eh?

Earnings Estimates: The Name's Bond Earnings Bond

To truly know if stocks are going to be a steal we need to keep an eye on earnings revisions especially for the second half of 2025. Clissold a chap I'd trust with my Aston Martin (almost) noted that forward P/Es didn't fall as much as trailing P/Es because earnings estimates were playing hide and seek. It's a bit like chasing shadows but essential if you want to avoid ending up in Goldfinger's melting pot. I always preferred my investments frozen not melted!

A Cocktail of Uncertainty: Shaken Not Solvent!

The market is as unpredictable as a Bond girl's intentions. One minute she's saving the world the next she's trying to kill you. That's why CNBC Pro LIVE is hosting an exclusive event at the New York Stock Exchange. They're offering insights that might just help you navigate these treacherous waters. Carter Worth Dan Niles Dan Ives and Tom Lee will be there. Sounds like a rogues' gallery but I'm assured they're experts not SPECTRE agents.

Martinis and Market Mayhem

Of course there's also a cocktail hour on the trading floor. I'm hoping they serve my usual – a martini shaken not stirred. Though given the state of the market perhaps a double is in order. It’s a chance to hobnob with the financial elite or at least pretend to understand what they're talking about. One thing is certain: even if the market is a minefield a good martini can make it all seem a bit more… manageable.

The World Is Not Enough… but Profit Is

So are stocks really cheaper? The jury is still out. But one thing's for sure: knowledge is power and a bit of luck never hurts. Keep your wits about you watch those earnings revisions and maybe just maybe you'll find a bargain that even Blofeld would envy. And remember investing should be fun or at least as fun as disarming a nuclear weapon. Now if you'll excuse me I have a meeting with Q. I need a new gadget to help me track these pesky P/E ratios.